A frustrated Luka Doncic went on tilt in Game 3, constantly complaining to the referees about fouls then making a couple of stupid ones himself on the way to fouling out with 4:12 left and the Mavericks down by just three points. Dallas had fought from 21 down to make it a game and give itself a chance to make this a series, only to have their best offensive player disqualified at the worst possible time.
Doncic apologized to his teammates, he told Malika Andrews of ESPN.
Luka Doncic admits he let Dallas down in Game 3, telling his teammates: “My bad, you can’t do that — especially in the NBA Finals.”
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 13, 2024
Our interview on fouling out for the first time in the playoffs, needing another pain killing shot for Game 4 and trying to make history down 0-3: pic.twitter.com/kRSjL93IHy
“My bad. You can’t do that, especially in the NBA Finals...
“It was tough. Probably wasn’t the smartest thing.”
Luka's 6 fouls
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) June 13, 2024
1. Fouls Tatum
2. Frustration foul/bad steal attempt
3. Offensive Foul
4. Fouls Payton Pritchard after he gets past him
5. Gets locked up with JB
6. Blocking call defending JB pic.twitter.com/569xEwmJKj
The Doncic who spoke to Andrews had calmed down and was more reflective than the one who spoke just after the Mavericks’ Game 3 loss.
“We couldn’t play physical,” Doncic said of his sixth foul. “I don’t know. I don’t want to say nothing. You know, six fouls in the NBA Finals, basically I’m like this [motions with palms out]. C’mon, man. [Be] better than that.”
Doncic will have to stay on the floor — and play better defense — if Dallas is going to win Game 4 at home Friday night and keep its season alive.
